How many children are hearing-impaired?

Nobody knows the exact number of children who are suffering from hearing loss. But several surveys indicate that between 1 and 3 per cent of all children are suffering from hearing loss - depending on the survey method and the definition of hearing loss.

One of the surveys carried out by researchers at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, USA, estimated that 2 per cent of all children in the USA are born with hearing loss and nearly 15 per cent of all children and young people between 6 and 19 years of age are suffering from temporary or permanent hearing loss for reasons ranging from illness to noise exposure.

The figures for European children who are suffering from hearing loss are expected to be at the same levels.

In the UK, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, RNID, estimates that about 25,000 British children aged 0 to 15 are 'deaf or hard of hearing'.Of these, 8,000 are severely or profoundly deaf.

Almost all children contract otitis media will at least once, and this can result in temporary hearing loss.